Week 12 in Review

Well two more top 5 teams went down. But to make this more fun for me I'm not going to tell you who yet. Mean while a defensive showdown was brewing in Ann Arbor and perhaps a retirement stewing. While the SEC had a game no one is proud of. Then a thriller in East Lansing and a game that means absolutely nothing in South Bend.

So number 1 LSU had to travel to Ole Miss. This game should definetely be a blow out right? Well the score was in some what in agreement but the offenses weren't. As the Rebels actually managed to out gain the Tigers offensively. But the Tiger's defense would help them keep the Rebels from scoring. In a game that seemed to have potential to develop into a great game. As the scoring started off back and forth for the first quarter as the Tigers jumped out on top 7-0 but then Green's punt return made the score 7-7. From there the Tigers would score the last points of the half. As the score at the end of the first quarter and the first half would be 14-7. Not the easy game we were expecting. Well Tiger fans wouldn't have to worry much longer. As the 2nd half started LSU put together a 54 yard drive for a touchdown adding the score up to 21-7. Then Ole Miss looking to keep this crazy season going along managed to get a field goal but the Tigers wouldn't take long to respond with a field goal of their own before the end of the third quarter. As the differnce remained 14, 24-10. So now Ole Miss was looking to muster some sort of miracle, although hopes were bleak since they are the only remaining SEC team with no shot of becoming bowl eligible. Another long LSU drive would lead to a field goal so now it was 27-10. But not so fast Ole Miss was quick to respond and make it 27-17. Unfortunately for those calling for an upset the Tigers were quick to score too. Making it 34-17 and then although Ole Miss would score so would LSU making the final 41-24. LSU now controls their own destiny for the national title. With two games remaining as they have to play Arkansas who has been a dissapointment with Darren McFadden not the all star he was speculated to be. Then they have either Tennessee or Georgia in the SEC title game. Tennessee just needs to win or Georgia loses for a Tennessee LSU game for the conference title. LSU doesn't have a sure national title shot since either game could result in a loss.

Lets hear about the number 2 team in the nation, Oregon. Well a Thursday night game, and coming off a bye. So Oregon should be able to win this game right? Well they have to get through the loud Arizona fans and the Wildcat's team. Oregon came out looking like a #2 team as they jumped up to a 8-0 lead on a 2 and a half minute, 70 yard drive. But Arizona didn't just leave they responded with a touchdown of their own making the score 8-7. Then with back and forth field goals the score at the end of the first quarter would be 11-10. But then it happened, Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon went to the turf in pain. A twisted knee costing him a shot at the heisman and even more the rest of the season. The fall of Dixon would turn the tide of the game. As to start the 2nd quarter the Wildcats would pick off the replacement and take it back for a touchdown. Making the score 17-11. But this was only the start in a shocker. Next time the Wildcats touched the ball. A long 46 yard pass which would be run in for a touchdown and a 24-11 lead over the nations number 2 team. This wasn't it either. They would also score another touchdown on a punt return making the score 31-11. Oregon would get a field goal to make it 31-14. But this game was already over or so it seems. In the third Oregon failed to do anything but get a field goal to make it 31-17. But a touchdown with 7 and a half remaining would making the score 31-24. But the Wildcats would control for a majority of the remaining time and kick a field goal and lead us to our final score of 34-24. This would open up the #2 spot for the Big 12 teams.

Kansas? Could they survive the upset minded Cyclones of Iowa State. Well let 45-7 explain it and a 4 touchdown performance by Reesing. Thanks to the the Jayhawks are now 11-0 with their first 11 win season in school history. But could Oklahoma keep pace? With the Big 12 championship coming up surely they wouldn't lose any ground against a team like Texas Tech. After Oklahoma came out and went out on top 7-0 the game really started. But because Sam Bradford went down, sounds like the Oregon Ducks now doesn't it, well the Red Raiders would put up 13 points in the first quarter to make it 13-7. But it really was the Harrell show for Texas Tech, as he would throw the ball over 40 times in the first half. But not in a failing way either as he threw 2 straight touchdowns in the second quarter to make it a 27-7 game and really make it look like it was over. All Oklahoma could do before the half was kick a field goal and make it a 17 point game going into the locker room. But it was really put away in the third quarter as the Red Raiders would score again to make it 34-10. Although the Sooners did manage a field goal before the end of the quarter. So with only fifteen minutes left the Red Raiders just had to hold on to a big 21 point lead for another 15 minutes. But would they be able to do it? Half way through the fourth the Sooners would manage a touchdown to make it 34-20. But the Sooners wouldn't get into the endzone again until there was only 34 seconds left in the game. After that they wouldn't see the endzone again and that would be the difference as the final of this game was 34-27 in favor of the Raiders. Well now their isn't even certainty in the Big 12 championship game. As Missouri and Kansas go head to head next week and then Oklahoma could lose it's bid if it loses to Oklahoma State. What this really opens up for the rest of the nation is for other 1 loss teams. Since now a Big 12 South team could knock off the Big 12 north winner and allow a 1 loss team to jump up. Missouri if you were wondering would beat Kansas State 49-32. Although Kansas State had the lead at one point it really ended up becoming the Chase Daniel show.

So it was that time of year again. When those two teams who hate each other more than anything else get together. They go at it for usually a Big 10 championship. As Michigan and Ohio State had the battle in the Big House this year. In a game that was wet and cold could Michigan's senoirs pull out the win, their last chance. Well in the first quarter it actually seemed like the hope was their the passion. As they put together 40 rushing yards and a few successful drives on way to a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. But then it became the Beenie Wells show. As he would help the Buckeyes score a touchdown to make it 7-3 relatively early in the 2nd quarter. Henne left for a while in the second but when Mallett came in the problems would seem to be gone but then quickly re appear with a sack. So in all honesty an injured Henne and Hart and recievers who weren't giving any help as they weren't able to hold on to a pass at all. Leading to a 7-3 game at the half. Although Michigan would get a pick in Ohio State territory at the end of the first half but un able to connect on the field goal. But then the first time Ohio State touched the ball in the second half they would score a 68 yard rushing touchdown. From that point on Michigan's defense was decisive and knew what they wanted. Unfortunately for the Wolverines they just seemed un able to score anything. As either the recievers dropped the balls or Hart couldn't get any help or Henne got pressured. Leading up to what would end up being a 14-3 final. As Michigan's rushing yardage actually went down through out the last 3 quarters. They also failed to get over 100 yards. So the outcome? Ohio State will be going to the Rose Bowl in less they manage to get enough help to go to the national title. Meanwhile Michigan will either be playing a game in the Citrus, Outback or Alamo bowl. Based on who picks them. Seeing as Illinois has a more impressive win over Ohio State and a better overall record. Then Wisconsin also beat Michigan head on head and then is better at traveling so the Outback may take them. Although Michigan is #2 in the Big Ten they may fall all the way to the Alamo Bowl. The other speculation is that a press conference this upcoming Monday could be to announce Lloyd Carr's retirement. Which would lead some to wonder what next for Michigan. Les Miles? LSU's coach perhaps. Or would it be somebody else... perhaps the Cincinnati coach.

West Virginia would keep the Bearcats of Cincinnati at bay 28-23. Keeping their title hopes alive. With all that has happened they'd be the first to get in if LSU or both Big 12 north teams fall at least it seems.

Then in East Lansing the Spartans got to play Penn State. Although the Spartans went up 7-0 early. They wouldn't manage to keep pace with the Nittany Lions for a while. As the Nittany Lions would score and then score a few more before half to make it 17-7 going into the locker room. Not exactly what Michigan State was looking for with 10 Big 10 teams bowl eligible. They really need this win and they stepped up?? Well Penn State would make a strong point as they would score on a fake field goal to make it 24-7. But from their it really became the Michigan State hurrah. As they would score two straight touchdowns to make it 24-21. But Penn State wasn't done either as they came back and scored a touchdown themselves. Though they looked to have momentum back on their side Michigan State's Caulcrick had other ideas. AS he would help lead the Spartans to a touchdown with 11 minutes left in the game making the score 31-28. But then he would also score a huge touchdown with 4 minutes left in the game making the score 35-31. Well Penn State failed to do anything with the ball the first time they got it. Then they managed to get it back with very little time left in the game. But because the quarterback scrambled and then threw it to the center of the field the time ran out. Giving the Spartans their 7th victory this season 35-31. So results of this one? Well now Michigan State should definetly go to a bowl game. Whether or not it is the Motor City bowl or Insight bowl, or Sun Bowl I'm not sure. Depends on how it shakes out. No matter what it is better than the 2-9 Notre Dame Irish who managed their second win against Duke 28-7.


Poll coming on Tuesday!!